Starbucks is on a caffeine high

Customers: $450 stainless-steel gift card ‘insane’

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

ESPRESSO OPINIONS: Outside Starbucks in South Boston, Lewis Forman of Wilmington, thinks the coffee chain’s $450 stainless-steel gift card is way over the top.

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

ESPRESSO OPINIONS: Outside Starbucks in South Boston, Holyn Nickerson of North Reading, thinks the coffee chain’s $450 stainless-steel gift card is way over the top.

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A $450 stainless-steel Starbucks gift card isn’t perking up local customers who say they don’t plan to put the ubiquitous coffee chain’s latest offering on their shopping lists this holiday season.

“It’s insane,” said Holyn Nickerson, 37, a manufacturing representative from North Reading. “It’s definitely not for the average person.”

Asked if she would plunk the money down for the Starbucks Metal card — which actually comes pre-loaded with only $400 in Starbucks credit — for a loved one, Nickerson replied, “Never.”

“I don’t love my family that much,” she added.

The Seattle java giant has made only 5,000 cards, which will be available to Starbucks members today and the general public Friday through the luxury e-commerce site Gilt.com, according to spokeswoman Linda Mills.

Though Lewis Forman, 39, a senior account services manager for Jumptap, likened the card to luxury store Neiman Marcus offering limited edition Ferraris for sale in its Christmas catalog, he said his pockets just weren’t deep enough to snag one.

“If you’re making $400,000 to $500,000 a year and you’ve got other friends making that much, this would probably be a very unique gift to get somebody,” said Forman, a Wilmington resident. “It’s not going to be worth it for me. It’s a lot of money just for a little card that’s going to actually weigh down your wallet a bit more.”

Java-loving patrons willing to break the bank for the caffeinated card will receive automatic membership in the “My Starbucks Rewards Gold” program, entitling them to such perks as a free beverage on their birthday and a complimentary drink or food item after every dozen coffee purchases.

Rival Dunkin’ Donuts said it has no plans at this time to offer its gift cards in higher denominations. The amounts range from $2 to $100.

“As a brand that is recognized for delicious food and beverages at a great value, we think our existing range makes the most sense for people seeking easy, convenient and affordable gifts this season,” Dunkin’ Donuts said in a statement.

The Metal card is the latest move by Starbucks to promote itself as a luxury brand. Last month, 46 locations in Seattle and Portland, Ore., starting selling rare Geisha coffee at $7 per 16-ounce “grande” cup.

Mike Tesler, president of Retail Concepts in Norwell, said certain consumers could view the card as “ostentatious and pretentious.”

“Most of us know that would be a little over the top and people are going to say, ‘Who does he think he is,’ or ‘What are they trying to prove?’ ” Tesler said.

The card launch came as Starbucks announced it will open 1,500 more U.S. cafes over the next five years. The company will also expand in the broader Americas region and overseas, particularly in China, and expects to have 20,000 stores globally, up from about 18,000, by 2017.